Hyderabad Mecca Masjid Largest Masajid in India, Hyderabad Tourism

History of Mecca Masjid:
The Mecca Masjid, situated near Charminar, Chowmahalla Palace and Laad Bazaar is the oldest mosque in Hyderabad. The construction of this Mecca Masjid was started by Sultan Mohammed Qutub Shah, but was finished after 77 years by the Mughal emperor Aurangazeb in 1694. This Mecca Masjid is a remarkable structure built in granite with beautiful interiors and is a listed heritage building in the city of Hyderabad. Mecca Masjid is also known as Makkah Masjid, this is an oldest mosques in city of Hyderabad in Telangana, and it is one of the largest masajid in India.

Nearly 8000 laborers were engaged to build this magnificent Masjid. As the visitors enter the huge court passing the main entrance, a large pond of bluish waters receives them. On the borders of the pond are two stone and slab benches and it is believed that whoever sits on them, revisits the Masjid and sits on them again.

The main prayer hall of the Masjid is 75 feet above the ground and is sufficient to accommodate ten thousand people at a time. It has five passageways. The roof of the main Masjid has walls made up of granite boards on all four sides. The roof is held up by 15 graceful arches, five on all three sides. The fourth side is blocked by a high wall to provide ‘mehrab’, i.e. direction of prayer towards Mecca. There are five intricately arched concealment's which have been carved out of a single portion of granite.

There are also four minarets with spherical corners, arched galleries and octagonal balconies and a small dome above each. The Mughal emperors included the domes at the apex of the Mecca Masjid in the mosque architecture later. The floral motifs and frescoes over the arches demonstrate sculptural brilliance and remind us of the prominence given to details in the Qutub Shahi style of architecture.

The tombs of the Asaf Jahi dynasty rulers lie in the premises of the Mecca Masjid. The courtyard of the mosque has a store room for some of the ancient and sacred vestiges and artifacts.

Best time to visit: The best time to visit the Mecca Masjid and Hyderabad is between the months of October and March after the monsoons. Unlike summers here which get very hot, winters are comparatively cool and so this is the ideal time to visit Mecca Masjid.

Trivia: Mecca Masjid gets its name from the bricks used in its construction, which were brought from the holy city of Mecca. A room in the courtyard of the Mecca Masjid is said to have a strand of hair of Prophet Mohammed.